Abstract

Nanomaterials have made a significant impact on cancer therapeutics and an emergence of polymeric nanoparticle provides a unique platform for delivery of drug molecules of diverse nature. Nanoparticles can be targeted at the tumor cells due to enhanced permeability and retention effect. Moreover, nanoparticles can be grafted by various ligands on their surface to target the specific receptors overexpressed by cancer cells or angiogenic endothelial cells. These approaches ultimately result in longer circulation half-lives, improved drug pharmacokinetics, reduced side effects of therapeutically active substances and overcoming cancer chemo-resistance thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment. This review article summarizes the recent efforts in cancer nanochemotherapeutics using polymeric nanoparticles with a special reference to their pharmacokinetic and biodistribution profiles, their role in reversing multidrug resistance in cancer and strategies of tumor targeting with them, along with the challenges in the field.